Hermione Granger pulled herself closer under her desk and smoothed out her skirt, glancing at the clock as she did so. She had been working at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office for three months already, and she had to admit it wasn't living up to her expectations. Hermione had gone from career to career after Hogwarts. After the clean-up efforts that restored the school and wizarding communities to their former glory, Hermione had been asked to start work for the Ministry.
She started off naming known (and living) Death Eaters and sympathisers of Voldemort, along with Harry, Ron and other members of the Order that had survived. She'd spoken at the memorial that remembered those who had fallen, speaking of friends and strangers who had died in the war for the light. She had given evidence and statements in most of the Death Eaters' trials and given an exclusive interview for every wizarding magazine and newspaper known to wizarding kind. Finally, after three months, Hermione had been able to relax. She had gone back to Hogwarts on September the first for an extra year to complete her N.E.W.T.s, and the students had welcomed her as a hero. She had hated every moment of it. She was relieved when the end of June came around and she could go home to her parents whom she had found in Australia.
Almost straight away, she was offered a job in the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures Office, where she worked tirelessly on S.P.E.W until she had obtained the rights to wages, annual leave and sick pay for every house-elf. After two years and the fulfilment of that particular dream, she moved on to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which entailed twenty-one months of catching criminals (and occasional stray Voldemort supporters) and shipping them off to Azkaban. Hermione had always felt empty with this job, so when she heard from Arthur Weasley, the Undersecretary to the Minister, that the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office was retiring, she had jumped at the chance of taking over. Technically, she was over qualified for the job, but she was willing to try anything to achieve job satisfaction again.
After the war, Arthur had been offered a well-respected (and well-paid) job at the Auror Office but had declined, preferring to settle down to his old job at the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. That was, until Kingsley Shacklebolt had become the permanent Minister of Magic.
Hermione had been at the office for three months, but she wasn't feeling as fulfilled as she would like to be.
"Granger?" a bored voice said.
"Just a minute, please," Hermione groaned.
"Granger, you have a visitor. He said it was… important."
Hermione snapped back to reality and looked at the interdepartmental assistant with incredulity.
"Who is it? No one of any importance comes here."
"It's Mr. Weasley, Granger." The assistant smiled sarcastically and walked out of the small room, glaring at Justin Finch-Fletchley on her way out.
"I wonder what's wrong with Pansy today," Hermione pondered absent-mindedly.
"Parkinson's just an uptight bitch," Justin scoffed.
"Justin…" Hermione warned.
"Sorry. It's just odd working with someone who was basically the enemy a few years ago."
"She wasn't the enemy. Not all the Slytherins were evil. There were only a few –" Hermione stopped as a knock on the door told her that her visitor had arrived.
Hermione stood up and walked quickly to the source of the knocking. As she opened the door, a bundle of burgundy robes with carrot-coloured hair rushed in and grabbed her by the waist. Hermione was lifted off the floor into an enthusiastic embrace.
"Ronald! Put…Me…Down!" Hermione gasped.
Ron Weasley grinned as he settled his startled girlfriend down on the floor.
"What are you doing here, Ron?"
"We have a lunch date, remember?" Ron nudged his girlfriend's arm, still grinning widely.
Was it Friday already? "Well, I'd love to, but I have a lot of work to be catching up with," Hermione lied, turning back to her desk.
"Oh, it's okay Hermione!" Justin piped up. "It's time to take your lunch hour anyway!"
"Yeah, Hermione, see?" Ron said happily.
"Yes, thank you, Justin." Hermione hissed through clenched teeth to her oblivious colleague. "Where do you want to go?"
"Well…" Ron frowned in deep thought. "There's a new café in Diagon Alley that I wanted to show you. But we can go to Hogsmeade if you really want –"
"Diagon Alley will be perfect," Hermione interrupted firmly. "Floo or Apparition?"
"Apparition."
Hermione reached for her coat, preferring Muggle attire over wizarding robes. She gave a small wave to Justin as she gripped Ron's arm and felt the familiar sensation of being squeezed through a tight tube that went hand-in-hand with Side-Along Apparition.
They arrived at the Apparition point at the end of Diagon Alley, and Ron promptly grabbed her hand and took her to the left down a small street Hermione had never been down before. After another left turn and two right turns, Hermione spoke up.
"Ron, where are we actually going?"
"I told you, it's a new café." Ron slowed to a stop outside a quaint brick building with a white picket fence, dropping Hermione's hand.
"Ronald, this doesn't seem to be a café," Hermione huffed impatiently.
"That's because it's not." Ron grinned sheepishly. "It's a surprise, for your twenty-fourth birthday!"
"What is? And my birthday isn't for another month, Ronald!" Hermione crossed her arms across her chest, frowning as her companion reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver key on a red string.
"Think of it as an invitation. It's our new place if you want it to be." Ron's smiled widened in anticipation of Hermione's response.
Hermione's mouth dropped open, and she unfolded her arms. "You bought me a house?"
Ron's smile faltered. "Well, it's for us, both of us. We can move in together! Your flat is too small for two people, and I've saved up enough money to buy this place."
Hermione slowly took the key from Ron's outstretched hand.
"You bought me a house," she repeated. "Without consulting me first?"
Hermione was fuming. Her flat in Sussex was perfectly adequate for what she needed it. Plus, Ron had just assumed she'd want to move in with him. He hadn't even discussed it with her.
"Don't you like it?" Ron asked pathetically.
"It's not that, Ron. I just… need some time. I'm sorry. I need to get back to work," Hermione whispered, her eyes filling with hot, angry tears. She thrust the key back into Ron's hand and half-ran back to the Apparition point, leaving a very confused and hurt-looking Ron standing silently in the street.
Hermione Apparated directly into her flat, breathing heavily. After regaining her composure, she took an unlimited-ink pen, one of her favourite inventions, and scrawled a quick note with a shaking hand.
Justin,
I've suddenly come down with a terrible sickness. I've taken some potion, but I think I need to take the afternoon off, just to be safe. Hannah Abbott will be in after lunch.
Take care!
Hermione
"Quinn!" she called. A large tawny owl screeched and flew in the open balcony door. "I have a letter for you. Can you take it to Justin at my office please?"
The owl blinked understandingly and held out her foot for Hermione to attach the letter to. Hermione watched the bird fly through the open window and into the clouds.
An hour later, Quinn returned with a reply. Hermione peeled herself off from the armchair and put down the book with which she had been trying to distract herself. To her surprise, Quinn had two envelopes in her grip. She opened the first one and scanned it quickly.
Hermione,
That's fine, try to get better soon! Ron came in here looking for you, so I told him you were ill. See you on Monday!
Justin
Hermione sighed and closed her eyes. She knew she'd overreacted with Ron. He had only been trying to be thoughtful. Slowly, she opened her eyes again and read the second letter.
Hermione,
I'm sorry for not talking to you first before buying the house. I'm mental, I know, and I can tell you think it's a bit too much. Why don't we talk about this later? If that's all right with you, I mean. I'll Floo to yours at seven. Write back.
I love you.
Ron
Tears prickled Hermione's eyes again as she placed the letter on the table. She had been with Ron for five years, more or less. Shortly after she had taken the job at the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures office, Ron had gone travelling around the world with Harry to spread the news about Voldemort's defeat and to stop any supporters reacting to the news. After six months of love letters via owl post, Ron had returned, his tan clashing awkwardly with his ginger hair, and he and Hermione had settled back into the relationship once again.
Since third year, Hermione had realised she had feelings for one third of the trio of friends, but she hadn't acted upon them until during the war, in what would have been her seventh year of Hogwarts.
No one was surprised. In fact, nothing really changed except that she and Ron were called a 'couple'. It was a comfortable relationship, but Hermione secretly yearned for the excitement again. As she'd known Ron for thirteen years, nothing surprised her anymore.
Until today, that is, Hermione thought. I suppose he wanted to move the relationship forward. A feeling at the pit of her stomach unnerved her, and she shook the thought out of her head. Shouldn't I be happier? she thought desperately. Shouldn't I be thinking of marriage?
She settled back down into her squishy armchair, reached for her spare parchment on the end table beside it and started to write.
Ronald,
Seven will be fine. I'll see you then.
Hermione
She was tempted to write 'love you too' but decided against the notion. She had never been one for sentimentality.